Abstract: Disclosed herein are alkaline baths for scouring textiles containing as a cleaning composition at least 0.05% of a mixture of a nonionic surfactant and a polycarboxylic acid or salt thereof of the formula ##STR1## wherein x and y are integers from 3 to 9, x and y together equal 12, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and COOM with at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 being COOM, and wherein M is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, sodium, potassium, lithium and ammonium, the proportion of nonionic surfactant to polycarboxylic acid or salt thereof being between about 1:0.4 and about 1:3.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the mercerization of textiles with a composition comprising an aqueous caustic solution of mercerizing strength containing as a wetting agent at least 0.10% of a mixture of a nonionic surfactant and a polycarboxylic acid or salt thereof of the formula ##STR1## wherein x and y are integers from 3 to 9, x and y together equal 12, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from the group of hydrogen and COOM with at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 being COOM, and wherein M is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, sodium, potassium, lithium and ammonium, the proportion of nonionic surfactant to polycarboxylic acid being between about 1:0.8 to 1:3.

Abstract: Two methods are disclosed for forming two different bubble cap assemblies for mounting over holes in tray decks of a gas and liquid contact apparatus, as a fractionation tower.